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In this paper, a nonlinear medical model based on observational variables has been produced and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique, which is an effective technique to predict optimum parameters of the biomedical model, has been used. This study has been conducted on a dataset consisting of 539 subjects. For comparison purposes, nonlinear regression analysis, nonlinear deep learning, and nonlinear regression neural network methods are also considered and the PSO results appear to be slightly better than that of other methods. Built on observational variables and findings, the model is expected to be a good guide for healthcare professionals in diagnosing pathologies and planning treatment programs for their patients. It is therefore strongly believed that the article will be particularly useful for those interested in emerging biomedical models in various medical modelling areas such as infectious and hematological diseases such as anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Poland’s syndrome patients often seek medical interventions to improve their aesthetic appearances. Design and manufacturing technologies make it possible to produce custom-made implants for such medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the 3D digital geometries that were designed using Magics and Geomagic® Freeform® for two anonymous case studies of Poland’s syndrome patients.Design/methodology/approach Computed tomography data were acquired and processed in Mimics® to isolate the pectoralis muscles in STL file format. STL files were imported into Magics and Geomagic® Freeform® to design 3D digital geometries. Thereafter, comparative analyses were performed of the respective 3D digital geometries.Findings The angle between the vertical and oblique planes for both sides of the thorax was 6.5° for the female and 14° for the male. The surface areas and volumes of the geometries for the female were smaller than the male. Deviation analyses between the healthy side and reconstructed side of a thorax showed that 73 per cent of the test points for Magics and 78 per cent for Geomagic® Freeform® fell in the nominated tolerance region of >−5 and <+5 mm for the female. For the male, it was 83 per cent for Magics and 88 per cent for Geomagic® Freeform®.Practical implications Geomagic® Freeform® provides a more versatile design environment; however, the STL editor Magics may be an option to design 3D geometries for less intricate and less contoured implants.Originality/value This was a first attempt to compare the 3D geometries for Poland’s syndrome designed with an STL editor to those designed with a computer-aided design program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Poland’s syndrome patients often seek medical interventions to improve their aesthetic appearances. Design and manufacturing technologies make it possible to produce custom-made implants for such medical conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the 3D digital geometries that were designed using Magics and Geomagic® Freeform® for two anonymous case studies of Poland’s syndrome patients.Design/methodology/approach Computed tomography data were acquired and processed in Mimics® to isolate the pectoralis muscles in STL file format. STL files were imported into Magics and Geomagic® Freeform® to design 3D digital geometries. Thereafter, comparative analyses were performed of the respective 3D digital geometries.Findings The angle between the vertical and oblique planes for both sides of the thorax was 6.5° for the female and 14° for the male. The surface areas and volumes of the geometries for the female were smaller than the male. Deviation analyses between the healthy side and reconstructed side of a thorax showed that 73 per cent of the test points for Magics and 78 per cent for Geomagic® Freeform® fell in the nominated tolerance region of >−5 and <+5 mm for the female. For the male, it was 83 per cent for Magics and 88 per cent for Geomagic® Freeform®.Practical implications Geomagic® Freeform® provides a more versatile design environment; however, the STL editor Magics may be an option to design 3D geometries for less intricate and less contoured implants.Originality/value This was a first attempt to compare the 3D geometries for Poland’s syndrome designed with an STL editor to those designed with a computer-aided design program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents reconstruction methods applied to a (geometrically and physically) complex structural object with the use of RP and RT techniques. The methods are innovative due to their hybrid - multi-model and multi-material - approach to reconstruction, as well as the application of multiple technologies. An experimental analysis was conducted to verify the feasibility of rapid prototyping (RP) techniques in the reconstruction of complex internal structures using materials of diverse properties. Some RP techniques offer the possibility of discriminating between diverse objects through the use of different colours. Such models are well-suited for diagnostic purposes, for better visualisation of complex clinical problems, pathological alterations, etc. Nevertheless, they fail to fully reflect physical and mechanical properties of objects, which renders them useful in experimental analysis only to a limited extent. Their basic drawback is that they merely reflect geometrical features of the examined object. The methods discussed in the present article enable modelling multi-object structures in a single process based on the PolyJet Matrix technology and materials of different physical properties by means of a hybrid method. The article also describes the process of modelling complex anatomical structures of soft tissues and bones using models of the maxilla and the mandible as examples. The study is based on data acquired through standard computed tomography (CT). In addition, the article addresses selected aspects of CT acquisition, generation of numerical models composed of several anatomical structures (objects) and fabricating physical multi-object models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The customized mandible reconstruction has been a challenging task in maxillofacial surgery. Designing an implant taking into considering the surrounding bone contours is really critical. Various computer aided design techniques have been used in the designing the customized reconstruction implants, but nevertheless study on the comparison between these techniques is rarely used.Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the mirroring and anatomical reconstruction design techniques used in the maxillofacial surgery and select the best design technique.Methods: The three mandible bone defects-small (< 20 mm), medium (20 to 40 mm) and large (41 to 53 mm) tumors are reconstructed using the two reconstruction design techniques and compared to their accuracy, using a 3 dimensional (3D) implant design evaluation and part to Computer aided design (CAD) comparison using a Co-ordinate measuring machine (CMM).Results: The analysis results indicate that the mirroring technique provides higher accuracy for the implant design as compared to the anatomical technique for the medium and large tumors at maxillofacial regions. In case of implant design in small tumors, the anatomical design provides perfect implant fitting.Conclusions: Based on the results, it is recommended to select the anatomy design technique only for small tumor regions and mirroring technique for medium and large tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an on-going research project for developing an automated intelligent X-ray based system for assessing screws positions in the vertebral pedicle. The purpose of the system is double, it can be used for surgeons The paper presents an on-going research project for developing an automated intelligent X-ray based system for assessing screws positions in the vertebral pedicle. The purpose of the system is double, it can be used for surgeons' training in pedicle screw insertion procedure, but also for evaluating surgical drill guides design to be used in the same surgery. Automating the processes of inspecting the screw placement and assessing the screw deviations from the ideal position, have the advantage of reducing the surgeon learning curves in performing a complicated surgical procedure. Moreover, developing and evaluating patient specific spinal drill guides is useful for improving the screw insertion and for reducing the surgeon irradiation exposure during the surgery. training in pedicle screw insertion procedure, but also for evaluating surgical drill guides design to be used in the same surgery. Automating the processes of inspecting the screw placement and assessing the screw deviations from the ideal position, have the advantage of reducing the surgeon learning curves in performing a complicated surgical procedure. Moreover, developing and evaluating patient specific spinal drill guides is useful for improving the screw insertion and for reducing the surgeon irradiation exposure during the surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the novel use of CT and MRI data and image processing tools to segment and reconstruct tissue images in 3D to determine characteristics of muscle, bone and brain. This to study and simulate the structural changes occurring in healthy and pathological conditions as well as in response to clinical treatments. Here we report the application of this methodology to evaluate and quantify: 1. progression of atrophy in human muscle subsequent to permanent lower motor neuron (LMN) denervation, 2. muscle recovery as induced by functional electrical stimulation (FES), 3. bone quality in patients undergoing total hip replacement and 4. to model the electrical activity of the brain. Study 1: CT data and segmentation techniques were used to quantify changes in muscle density and composition by associating the Hounsfield unit values of muscle, adipose and fibrous connective tissue with different colors. This method was employed to monitor patients who have permanent muscle LMN denervation in the lower extremities under two different conditions: permanent LMN denervated not electrically stimulated and stimulated. Study 2: CT data and segmentation techniques were employed, however, in this work we assessed bone and muscle conditions in the pre-operative CT scans of patients scheduled to undergo total hip replacement. In this work, the overall anatomical structure, the bone mineral density (BMD) and compactness of quadriceps muscles and proximal femoral was computed to provide a more complete view for surgeons when deciding which implant technology to use. Further, a Finite element analysis provided a map of the strains around the proximal femur socket when solicited by typical stresses caused by an implant press fitting. Study 3 describes a method to model the electrical behavior of human brain using segmented MR images. The aim of the work is to use these models to predict the electrical activity of the human brain under normal and pathological conditions by developing detailed 3D representations of major tissue surfaces within the head, with over 12 different tissues segmented. In addition, computational tools in Matlab were developed for calculating normal vectors on the brain surface and for associating this information with the equivalent electrical dipole sources as an input into the model.